Discharge device for use with conveyers



Sept. 3, 1935. T sMlTH 2,013,292

DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR USE WITH CONVEYERS Filed Nov. 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheetl Sept. 3, 1935- 5. T. SMITH DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR USE WITH CONVEYERS Filed Nov. 28, 1934 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented fiept. 3, 1935 DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR USE WITH CONVEYERS George Thompson Smith, Loughborough, England, assignor to Herbert Morris Limited, Loughborough, England Application November 28, 1934, Serial No. 755,129 In Great Britain February 17, 1934 12 Claims.

their loads at any oneofa series of discharge stations along the conveyer track.

In accordance with a principal object of the present invention means are provided to operate a tilting mechanism whereby each load carrier is adapted to discharge its load at any predetermined station;

A further object is to provide means whereby once a load carrier has discharged its load the tilting mechanism is not operated when passing succeeding stations.

Another object is to provide for setting the discharge mechanism by means of a remotecontrol device whereby the load carried by any particular load carrier is discharged at any predetermined station, while in accordance with a still further object of the inventiona signalling device is incorporated whereby warning is given of an approach of a loaded carrier to any particular tion appliedto an overhead chain driven trolley,

type conveyer, Fig. 2 being an end View thereof, Fig. 3 is a section to a larger scale through the operating mechanism for the discharge of a load,

Fig, 4 'is a section on the line A-A of Fig. 3,

while Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic elevation showing a setting arrangement for the discharge mechanism. Fig. 6 is an end view looking in the direction of the arrow A (Fig. 7) showing a ratchet mechanism providing an alternative setting arrangementfor the discharge mechanism'andalso a. switch operating mechanism of a signalling device for use-with the conveyer, Fig. '7 is a cross-v section thereof looking in the direction of the arrow B. Fig. 8 is an elevation showing a part ofthe conveyer system and including a ramp for operating the ratchet mechanism. Fig-9 is an .D-''-D (Fig. 10), while Fig. 12 is a detail to enlarged scale showing the switching mechanism for the signalling device.

Referring to the drawings. 1' denotes the over:

head runway which is provided with a number of spaced trolleys 2 which support the driving chain 3 and the trays 4 (only one trolley and one tray being shown). The trays i are pivotally mounted on Ushaped'frames5 carried by side plates 6 attached to the trolleys 2. The arrow T 5 indicates the direction of travel of the trays Mounted in the side plates 6 is a spindle l; on" which is mounted a ratchet wheel 8 co-operating' with a spring-pressed pawl 9 mounted on a bifurcated arm H) which is adapted to be rocked on 10 the spindle l. A setting dial ll mounted on the spindle i serves for setting the ratchet wheel 8 in any desired position, a spring pressed ball catch 82 engageable with recesses on the face of the ratchet wheel 8 acting to hold it in any set posi- 15 tion.

Theratchet wheel 8 is provided with teeth I 3 corresponding in number to the discharge stations to be served by the conveyer, one tooth |3a being specially shaped (e. g. cut deeper) so that the pawl 9, when engaging this tooth, is also permitted to engage a tooth I 4 on a segmental lever l5 mounted on the spindle i. The lever I5 is connected by means of links l6, I1, and !8 in the usual manner to one end of a bell crank lever l9 pivoted at 20 to the frame 5 of the tray 4. and attached at the other end tothe tray 4 which is pivotally mounted in the support 5. The link ll is pivoted on a shaft 2| supported by a bracket 22. i

The bifurcated rocking arm I!) terminates at one end in a pair of arms 23 supporting a spindle 24 on which are mounted rollers-25 adapted to engage with stationary ramps 26 (of which only one is shown) at each discharge station. The arm I0 is provided at its other end witha balance weight 2'! serving to return the arm to normal position when released by the ramp 26.

Steadying rolls 28 supported in a bracket 29 serve to prevent the tray 4 from swinging when the rollers 25 engage the ramps 26 as shown in dotted lines. The steadying rolls 28 are so positioned that they are just clear of the horizontal portion of the ramp 26 when the rollers 25 en gage the inclined portion of the'ramp ,26. A bracket 29 attached to the side plates 6 by means of a clamping plate 3| also acts as a stop for the link ll of the tray tilting mechanism.

In operation, if the tray 4 is to discharge its load at say the third station, the setting dial H, and thus the ratchet wheel 8, is adjusted so that at such third station the rocking arm l0 actuated by the ramp 26 at this station will cause the spring-pressed pawl 9 to engage the shaped tooth l3a and the tooth M of the segmental lever I5 which'will thus be rocked about the spindle l to which causes the ratchet wheel and setting device to rotate until the desired setting is obtained. If

operate the connecting links N, H, and I6 and tilt the tray 4 about its pivot to discharge the load. The lever i5 is returned tonormal position by means of a stop 36 on the arm 16.

The tooth l3 on the ratchet wheel 8' succeeding the shaped'tooth'l'ea. is spaced from the next tooth liib by an amount greater than the travel of the" pawl so that once the load has been discharged from the tray t and the ratchet 8 has been advanced one teeth, the pawl 6 engages with this longer tooth i312 and merely rides backwards andforwards. Consequently at all succeeding stations the ratchet wheel 8 is not advanced.

The side plates 6 are preferably pivoted tothe trolleysZ so that-the trays t can remain in a horizontal position when the runway! is inclined.

If desired, the ratchet wheel 8 may be remotely controlled in which case the spindle l is extended and is provided with a star wheel engaged by a rack or alternatively by a ratchet Wheel engaged by a pawl operated by a succession of ramps it is desired that the ratchet should have the the setting fordifierent trays the rack teeth are tor 56 mountedon a spindle 5!.

same setting for all the trays or thelike an ordinary rack with fixed teeth may be used for rotat ing thestar wheel.

In one embodiment suitable for use in varying constituted as shown in Fig. 5 by separate teeth in the'form of a series of pins 32 mounted in a fixed frame 33, the pins being normally held out of. engagement with a star Wheel 36 provided on an extension of the spindle l actuated by a pinion 3'5 adapted to engage the remote ends of the pins 32 any one or more of the pins may be depressed against the action of the springs 35 to engage and rotate the star wheel 34 and thus the ratchet wheel S'by'an amount dependent on the number ofpins 32 depressed.

Referring now to the arrangement shown in Figs. G'to 11 the spindle .l carrying the ratchet .5 is extended to carry a ratchet wheel 38 which is engaged by a pawl 39. The pawl 39 is mounted at one end of a link 38 pivotally mounted on a spring-controlled lever 4i and a leverdia, the end 4!?) of which co-op-erates with a stop ilo.

" The link 46 carries at itsother end a forked member 42 supporting a roller 43. To provide for any, desired setting of the ratchet wheel 8 a ramp it is disposed in the path of a tray so that it engages ,the roller 43,

= the ramp M being suitably mounted to provide for vertical movement so as to. move it clear of the roller 33 and provided with means to vary the number of teeth 55 engaged by the roller 53.

The number of teeth .engageable by the roller is Varied by rendering certain of the teeth ineffectiveby means of a rack tfi which is moved longitudinally by means of a pinion i'lL. The pinion s1 is mounted on a spindle 6B which carries at its other end a pinion 59 meshing with a toothed sec- The spindle 53 and sector 55) are rotated by means of a handle 52 rotating a sprocket wheel 53 mounted on a spindle'd, an/endless chain 55 passing over a further sprocket wheelifi mounted on the spindle 5!. "The handle 52 is moved over a graduated dial 5! which indicates the amount of rotation required to render one or more of the teeth of the ramp M ineffective. By rotating the handle 1 52 hemqk 5? is moved longitudinally to close by means of Jsprings'35. By -means of a sliding ramp 3% 59 is connected by a link 59 to one arm of a second bell crank lever iii the other arm of which is connected to the spindle 5i. The spindles 54 and 5! carrying the sprocket wheels 5 and 55 are connected together by means of a sliding rod 62 adapted to be moved in vertical guides by means of a handle 63 thus raising directly one of the arms 58 mounted on the spindle 5! t .e other arm 58 being raised through the bellcrank levers 6i and 59 and connecting link 6%.

Thus, once the ratchet wheel 8 is set correctly the handle 63 is lifted,]'thus raising the ramp it clear of the roller 43 of the ratchet setting mechanism. I

A signalling arrangement may be employed with the conveyer system whereby the approach of a tray or the like which has discharged its load is indicated. Alternatively, the signalling device may be arranged to give warning ofan.

' approach of a tray to a station or to any predetermined preceding station where it will discharge its load or give warning that a tray is about to discharge itsload at the next station or at any predetermined station following the station where the signal is placed. j

The signal, which may be an electric lamp to give a visual warning or abuzzeror bell to. give audible warning is. controlled by a switch 64,the

switch-arm65 of which is controlled by a piv-f otally mounted ramp 66. The ramp66 is disposed in the path of'a rocking lever 6'3 which is hor mally depressed by the ramp 66 without operating the switch.- When the tray carrying the load has passed a predetermined numberfof sta-. tions dependent upon the setting of the ratchet wheel 8 a cam ratchet 68, which in'the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and]? is integral with the ratchet wheel 38, is brought into a position to prevent the-rocking arm-61 being depressed. The ramp 66 is thenmoved longitudinally of the rocking arm 6'l and the switch arm 65 closes the switch to light the warning lamp or close an electrical circuit containing-a buzzer orbell.

Naturally, thesignal can bearranged to operate for any particular setting of the tray tiltingv mechanism depending on the relative position-- ing of the cam-ratchet 68 and the deep tooth on the ratchet wheel 8 which operates the tilting mechanism.

It will be seen thus that three formsoi ramps may be provided along the conveyor system viz: (l) Ramp 26which engages the rocking arm ID to actuate the tray tilting mechanism. (One of these ramps is located at every discharge station.)

(2) Ramp 66 which engages the rockingarm 6! to operate the signalling device. (A ramp 66 is located at any point where it is desired to oper -l ate thesignalling-device.) 'And (3) 'Themultiple ramp Mwhich operates the setting mechanism'for the discharge of a load at any predetermined station.

The ramps 44 are located at points along the conveyer track where it is desiredto set automatically the ratchet for the discharge of aload from, a tray at any predetermined following station. 7 1 s M 1 In the embodiment shows Fig. 8 the ramps 26 and 66 are arried by the same hangers. I cla m:--

1. A convey r ystem c mprisin in combinationwith a conveyer track presenting a plurality of discharge stations and a series of load car- ,riers movable along said track, ramps located adjacent said discharge stations, pawl and ratchet mechanism mounted oneach of said load carriers, saidpawl and ratchet mechanism operable by said ramps and load discharging means associated with each of said carriers, said load discharging means including a lever operable positively by the pawlof said pawl and ratchet mechanism on a predetermined movement or" the ratchet mechanism. a r 1 V 2., A conveyer system comprising in combination with a conveyer track presenting a plurality of discharge stations and a series of load carriers movable along said track, ramps located adriers, said pawl and ratchet mechanism operable by said ramps and means for tilting said load carriers whereby to discharge the loads of said carriers, said tilting means including a lever operable positively by the pawl of said pawl and ratchet mechanism on a predetermined movement of the ratchet mechanism.

3. A conveyersystem comprising in combination a conveyer track presenting a plurality of discharge stations, a series of ramps disposed along the track and adjacent the discharge stations, a series of load carriers mounted for movemerit along said track, a ratchet wheel mounted on each of said carriers, a lever mounted coaxially of each ratchet wheel, an arm on each of the carriers adapted to co-operate with said ramps, a, pawl carried by each ofv said arms adapted to engage said ratchet wheel and in one position of said ratchet wheel to engage also said leverand tilting mechanism on each of said carriers operable by said lever.

4. A conveyer system comprising in combination a. conveyer track presenting a plurality of discharge stations along said track, .a series of ramps disposed along the track and located adjacent the discharge stations, a series of load carriers mounted for movement along said track, a ratchet wheel with difierently spaced ratchet teeth supported for rotation on each load carrier, an arm mounted on each load carrier, said arm operable by the ramps, a pawl carried by said arm for advancing the ratchet .tooth by tooth, a lever masked by said ratchet wheel operable positively by the pawl when a predetermined tooth of the ratchet is engaged thereby, and tilting mechanism associated with the load carrier operable by said lever.

5. A discharge device for a load carrier of a conveyer comprising a spindle on each of said carriers, a ratchet wheel mounted on said spindle, means for adjusting the initial angular position of said spindle on the carrier and hence the initial angular position of the ratchet wheel, a movable arm mounted on said spindle, a pawl mounted on said arm for engagement with said ratchet wheel, ramps disposed along said conveyer track in the path of said arm, tilting mechanism associated with each of said carriers and a lever operatively connected to said tilting mechanism and mounted on said spindle, said lever adapted in one position of said ratchet to be engaged by said pawl to operate the tilting mechanism.

6. A discharge device for a load carrier of a conveyer comprising a spindle on each of said carrier's, a ratchet wheel mounted on said spindle, means for remotely controlling the initial angular position of said spindle on the carrier and hence the initial positionof the ratchet wheel, a movable arm mounted on said spindle, a pawl mounted on said arm for engagement with said ratchet wheel, ramps disposed along said conveyer track in the path of said arm, tilting mechanism associated with each of said carriers and .a lever operatively connected to said tilting mechanism and mounted on said spindle, said lever adapted in one position of said ratchet to be engaged by said pawl to operate the tilting mechanism. l

7. A discharge device for a load carrier of a conveyer comprising aspindle on each of said carriers, a ratchet wheel mounted on said spin dle, means for remotely controlling the initial angular position of said spindle on the carrier and hence the initial position of the ratchet wheel, said means comprising a star wheel mounted on eaclrof said spindles, a frame, a series of pins mounted in said frame, springs mounted on said .pins between said frame serving to hold said pinsout of engagement with said star wheel, a ramp associated with said frame, said ramp being adapted to move and depress one or more or" said pins wherebyto rotate said star wheel and said spindle, a movable arm mounted on said spindle, a pawl mounted on said arm for engagement with said ratchet wheel, ramps disposed .along said conveyer track in the path of said arm, tilting mechanism associated with each of said carriers and a lever operatively connected to said tilting mechanism and mounted on said spindle, said lever adapted in one position of said ratchet to: be engaged by said pawl to operate the tilting mechanism.

8. A discharge device for a load carrier of a conveyer comprising a spindle on each of said carriers, a ratchet wheel mounted on said spindle, a movable arm mounted on said spindle, a pawl mounted on said arm for engagement with said ratchet wheel, ramps disposed along said conveyer track in the path of said arm, tilting mechanism associated with each of said carriers, a lever operatively connected to said tilting mechanism and mounted on said spindle, said lever adapted in one position of said ratchet to be engaged by said pawl to operate the tilting mechanism and means for remotely controlling the imtial angular position of said spindle on the carrier and hence the initial position of the ratchet wheel, said means comprising a second ramp disposed along the conveyer track and means mounted on each of said carriers and operable by said second ramp for altering the angular position of the ratchet mechanism independently of the first mentioned ramp.

9. A discharge device for a load carrier of a conveyer comprising a spindle on each of said carriers, a ratchet wheel mounted on said spindle, a movable arm mounted on said spindle, a pawl mounted on said arm for engagement with said ratchet wheel, ramps disposed along said conveyor track in the path of said arm, tilting mechanism associated with each of said carriers, a lever operatively connected to said tilting mechanism and mounted on said spindle, said lever adapted in one position of said ratchet to be engaged by said pawl to operate the tilting mechanism, and means for remotely controlling the initial angular position of said spindle on the carrier and hence the initial position of the" ratchet wheel, said means comprising a second ratchet wheel mounted on said spindle, a second series of ramps disposed along the conveyer track, a link pivoted on eachof said load carriers, said link being adapted to engage and be depressed by each of said second series of ramps, a pawl mounted on said link, saidpawl engaging and advancing said second ratchet wheel on' depression of said link.

10; A dischargevdevice for a load carrier of a conveyer comprising a spindle on each of'said carriers, a ratchet wheel mounted onsaid spindle, means for remotely controlling the initial'angular position of said spindlew on the carrier and hence the initial position of the ratchet wheel, said means comprising a ramp disposedalong the conveyer path, said ramp beingprovided with spaced teeth, a rack associated withsaid ramp, said rack being adapted to be moved axially of said ramp to close the gap between said teeth; a link pivoted on each of said load carriers, said link being adapted to engage and be depressed by i the teeth of said ramp, a pawlmounted on'said link, a second ratchet wheel forvadvancing said ratchet on said spindle, said second ratchet wheel being rotated by said link, means for movingsaid ramp out of the path of said link, a movable arm mounted on said spindle, a pawl mounted on'said arm for engagement with said ratchet wheel, a series of ramps disposed along said conveyer track in the path of said arm, tilting mechanism associated with each of said'carriers and a lever operativelyconnected to said tilting mechanism and mounted on said spindle, said lever adapted in one position of said ratchet'to be engaged by said pawl to operate the tilting' nechanism. I i

11. A discharge device for a load carrier of a conveyer comprising a spindle on each of said carriers, a ratchet wheel mounted on said spindle, a movable arm mounted on said spindle, a pawl mountedon said arm for engagement with said ratchet wheeLramps disposed along said conveyer track in the path of said arm, tilting mechanism associated with each of said carriers, a

anism and mounted on said spindle, said lever adapted inone position of said ratchet to be engaged by said pawl to operate the tilting mechanism,-a visual signalling device, 'a switch controlling said signalling device, a second ramp 10- cated along the conveyer track, a second arm conveyer comprising a spindle on each of said carriers, a ratchet wheel mounted'on said spindle, a movable arm mounted on'said spindle, a pawl mounted on said arm for engagement with said ratchet wheel, ramps disposed along said conveyer track in'the path of said arm, tilting mechanism associated with each of said carriers, a lever operatively connected to said tilting mechanism and mounted on said spindle, said lever adapted in one position of said ratchet to been-- gaged byfsaid pawl to operate the tilting mechanism, an audible signalling device, a switch controlling said signalling device, 'a se'condramp 10-;

cated along the con'veyer track, a second arm mounted on each of said load carriers, said second arm being adapted to'be rocked when engaged by said second ramp, means for preventing the rocking'of said second arm in any predetermined position whereby said second ramp is moved to close said switch andgive an audible warning.

, i r v w r GEORGE THOMPSON SIVHZTH.

lever operatively connected to'said tilting inech- 5 

